DAE miss when minimalism was just about your stuff, not your schedule?

I see the point in decluttering both things and commitments, but which one made a bigger difference for your minimalism journey?

3 comments

3 Comments

victor_baker1mo ago

Minimalism started with my garage full of baby gear. Once the kids outgrew strollers and swings, I sold it all in a weekend. That physical space felt amazing, but then I saw their activity schedule. Soccer, piano, playdates, it was a marathon. Letting go of two weekly lessons gave us back our Tuesday nights. The stuff was easy to part with, but saying no to activities took real nerve.

david_chen1mo agoMost Upvoted

When you mentioned letting go of weekly lessons to get back Tuesday nights, I felt that. We had our kids signed up for too many teams, like baseball and swim club all at once. Dropping baseball freed up our evenings and cut down on weekend drives. Telling the coach was tough, but having that empty time on the calendar made family dinners actually happen. Stuff is one thing, but guarding your time is where you really feel the difference.

jamie_white1mo ago

Clearing out my closet was just the first step, it made me notice how packed my calendar was too. Letting go of stuff gave me space to breathe, but saying no to events and obligations changed how I live day to day. The calendar stuff is trickier because it involves other people's feelings, not just my old junk. Both mattered, but cutting back on commitments had a deeper effect on my stress levels. It started with a cleaner house and ended with a much quieter weekend.